Physical Feature of
Europe
Unit 4: Chapter 12
Physical Features of
Europe
 Europe:
 - is a continent that is made up of many
peninsulas
 - Europe is a peninsula

Peninsula: a body of land surrounded on 3
side by water
 - In many of the peninsulas there are Fjords:

Fjords: U-shaped valleys that connect to
the sea, they are caused by glaciers that
once slid across land
Peninsulas
 Peninsulas:
 * peninsulas are important to trade and
commerce due to the easy access to the
ocean and other major bodies of water
 - in the north there are 2 major
peninsulas
Northern Peninsulas
 1) Scandinavian Peninsula- portions of
Norway and Sweden that are
surrounded by the Norwegian Sea,
North Sea, and Baltic Sea.
 2) Jutland Peninsula- largest part of
Denmark and smaller part of Germany
Jutland Peninsula
Southern Peninsulas
 - in the south there are 3 major peninsulas
 1) Iberian Peninsula- makes up Spain and
Portugal, and is blocked off by the Pyrenees
Mountains
 2) Italian Peninsula- makes up Italy and is
shaped like a boot
 3) Balkan Peninsula- very mountainous
peninsula bordered by the Adriatic Sea
Iberian Peninsula
Italian Peninsula
Balkan Peninsula
Mountains of Europe
 Mountains:
 - mountains are an important part of geography
in Europe, think of them as walls that separate
people, ideas, and goods.
 - they are also barriers for weather and climate
 - also they create tourist opportunities for the
economy
Mountains of Europe
 1) Alps: are the most famous of Europe

- they run across France, Italy,
Germany, Switzerland, Austria

- they separate Italy from Europe
 2) Pyrenees Mtns:

- wall like mountains that separate
Spain and Portugal from France

- boundary for the Iberian Peninsula
Alps
Alp Mtns
Pyrenees Mtn
Mountains of Europe
 3)Apennine Mtns:

- run down the Italian Peninsula and
separate east and west parts of Italy
 4)Balkan Mtns:

- these mountains block off the Balkan
Peninsula
River System of Europe
 Rivers:
 - rivers of Europe serve many purposes, one
major purpose is transportation.
 Rhine River: flows 820 miles north from the
interior of Europe, and empties into the North
Sea
 Danube River: flows almost 2,000 miles and
touches 9 countries as it flows from the interior
of Europe into the Black Sea.
Plains of Europe
 Plains:
 - 33% of Europe is suitable for growing
crops (11% of the world’s plains)
 - one major plain:

1) Northern European Plain
- cuts across parts of France,
Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark,
Germany, and Poland
Resources of Europe
 Resources:
 - Europe has many dense forests and many
mineral resources and energy resources
 - 2 major mineral resources:

1) Coal

2) Iron Ore
 - energy resources: include natural gas and oil
found in the North Sea.
Ireland: Unique Case
 * Ireland is unique in Energy Resources:

- they don’t have forests or coal
deposits so for some of their energy they
rely on Peat Moss:
 Peat Moss- is partially decade plant
matter found in bogs and is burned for
fuel
Climate/Vegetation
Climate
 Climate:
 - Europe is divided when it comes to climate
there are

* Warm coastlines

* Harsh interior weather
 - most of Europe has a marine west climate,
which means warm summers and cool winters

- depends on latitude
*Warm Coast Lines
- caused by the North Atlantic Drift:
current of warm water from the
Atlantic that flows close to the
coastline bringing warm air and
warmer temperatures.
* Harsh Interior
 - harsh
interior comes from
different latitudes
 ° hot and dry summers but
cold snowy winters
Mediterranean Climate
 - borders the Mediterranean Sea and has mild
and dry temperatures
 - the Alp Mtns block the cold winds from the
north
 - also warm due to the Sirocco: which are
warm winds that blow from north Africa
 - this form of climate allows for the growth of
olives, grapes and other major crops in
Human-Environment
Interaction
“God creates the world, but the Dutch created Holland”
 - 40% of the Netherlands was once under sea water
 - land was reclaimed by a system of Polders
 Polders: is the draining of water from an area and then
a dike is built to keep water out.
 - Dutch also use Terpens, which are high- earthen
platforms that protect from sea currents.
Waterways of Venice:
 - Venice, Italy was built on a swamp with many
rivers/canals flowing around it.
 -120 islands make up Venice, so to get around
the city you either walk or take a boat.
 - due to the weight of the city and the lowlands
it was built on Venice is sinking and creating
water pollution due to the boats.